PHA-Exch> MAJOR CORPORATIONS TO INVEST IN UN-BACKED FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, TB, MALARIA

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Vern Weitzel <vern at coombs.anu.edu.au>
crossposted from : "[health-vn discussion group]" <
health-vn at cairo.anu.edu.au>

From: UNNews at un.org

MAJOR CORPORATIONS TO INVEST IN UN-BACKED FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, TB, MALARIA
New York, Jan 21 2008  1:00PM



The United Nations-backed Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria
today <"
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/media_center/press/pr_080121.asp"> announced
the
launch of the Corporate Champions programme, an innovative way for
multinational
companies to significantly invest in the fight against the three diseases.

Chevron Corporation, a major international energy company, is the
programme's
inaugural Corporate Champion, making a commitment to invest $30 million over
three years in Global Fund-supported programmes in parts of Asia and Africa.

"Global companies with large, long-term investments in developing countries
understand that fighting disease is a necessary part of their strategic
investments," said Rajat Gupta, chairman of the Board of Directors for the
Fund,
a partnership between Governments, civil society, the private sector and
affected communities.

"The Global Fund Corporate Champion programme provides the opportunity for
these
companies to make significant, effective, results-driven investments in
national
health programmes. We are extremely pleased with the commitment from
Chevron.
Its long-standing dedication to combating HIV/AIDS combined with its
needs-based
partnership approach to community engagement makes Chevron an ideal first
Corporate Champion."

Since its creation in 2002, the Fund has become the dominant multilateral
financer of programmes to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, providing well over 20
per
cent of all international finance against AIDS and two-thirds of global
financing for TB and malaria.

So far, programmes that it has supported have averted 2 million deaths by
providing AIDS treatment for 1.4 million people and TB treatment for 3.3
million, and by distributing 46 million insecticide-treated bed nets that
help
prevent the spread of malaria.

Each Corporate Champion will make a financial contribution to Fund-supported
programs in countries where it operates, thereby significantly expanding
upon
its own workplace and community projects and investing in high-quality,
rigorously monitored and results-focused health programmes aligned with
national
needs and strategies.

In addition, Corporate Champions will leverage their people and assets to
improve the effectiveness and reach of health programmes by lending their
management skills and business infrastructure to the development and
implementation of national strategies in the fight against AIDS, TB and
malaria.

The Champions also are required to demonstrate a long-term commitment to
fighting these global health issues. Chevron was selected as the inaugural
partner as a result of its highly-successful community engagement programmes
tackling AIDS and malaria and its award-winning HIV/AIDS workplace
programmes.

"AIDS, TB and malaria are critical health threats in many of the communities
where we operate around the world," Chevron chairman and chief executive
officer
Dave O'Reilly said. "The key to the success of the Global Fund has been the
strength of its partnership and collaboration model, which is an approach
that
Chevron shares. For a company such as ours, it makes clear business sense to
join with the Global Fund and leverage resources in the fight against these
diseases."


HMMMM..!
Claudio
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